There Are Healthy Solutions for Pain Today

If you have osteoporosis, then you know how important it is to be as safe as you can possibly be. A fracture of the vertebrae, wrist, ankle, or leg at this point would take forever to heal. If you do fall and get a fracture, here are the most common, and most effective osteoporotic fracture treatments that work.

Immobilization

The thought of remaining perfectly still for months for a vertebral fracture seems insane. However, that is what has to happen if your fracture is this close to your spinal cord. When the fracture is in one of the other parts of your body, it is easier to immobilize these areas with casts and slings. You will be unable to move for several weeks or months until your fractures heal.

Re-Calcification

Calcification is the process whereby the body works to produce enough bone to support and/or protect surrounding soft tissues. In patients with osteoporosis, the body stops this process, or slows it down such that fractures are more likely to occur. To get the body to "reboot" the calcification process, your doctor will give you medications. You must take these medications regularly if you expect to make a full recovery. Your doctor will perform a few bone scans along the way to make sure the medications are doing their job and that you are healing properly.

Rehabilitation

Rehab therapy is almost always required after you have recovered from a broken bone. The sooner you are able to get up and get moving, the stronger you will be. The bones knit and the surrounding muscles give the bones some help by keeping them in place. If the fracture was in your back, you will need rehab for several weeks to regain your strength after being immobilized for so long. If the fracture was in a wrist or ankle, you can expect less rehab therapy as you can do most of the rehab exercises on your own at home.

Why Surgery Is a Last Resort

It is rare that a doctor will recommend surgery for patients with osteoporotic fractures since patients heal so slowly. However, your doctor might recommend it if there is a bone splinter or chip that could embed in your spinal cord, or the splinter/chip will make it impossible to move that part of your body without intense pain and swelling. Since titanium pins may not be an option, the splinter/chip is often removed entirely.

About Me

I work on masonry all day long most days. I really enjoy working with my hands, so I loved my job when I first started in my early 20s. Over the years, my job had become less enjoyable due to the back pain I began experiencing on most work days. I hesitated to mention it to my doctor, because I didn't want to take any strong pain medications. When the pain became unbearable, I spoke to my doctor and he recommended physical therapy. I was unsure if it would work, but thought, "What have I got to lose?" While it took a few sessions before I noticed drastic pain relief, my pain is now under control and I rarely reach for OTC pain medications anymore. I know others out there work in strenuous fields and I plan to post many more tips for staying healthy when working a tough job!